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First Lady Kim Hye-kyung Advocates for Hanji: 'Let's Shout Hanji Instead of Kimchi!' – 'Hoping for Hanji's Expansion int
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

First Lady Kim Hye-kyung Advocates for Hanji: 'Let's Shout Hanji Instead of Kimchi!' – 'Hoping for Hanji's Expansion into Design, Fashion, and UNESCO Listing'

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended a Hanji (traditional Korean paper) exhibition and fashion show in San Francisco, expressing hope for its global recognition.
  • She highlighted Hanji's potential for expansion into art, crafts, design, and fashion, emphasizing its role in connecting past and future.
  • Kim wished for Hanji's inscription as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December.

South Korean First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended a Hanji exhibition and fashion show in San Francisco, expressing her hope that the traditional Korean paper will be cherished as a beautiful cultural heritage that transcends borders and connects people's hearts. The event, titled 'Time and Future Connected by Hanji,' took place at The Pearl in San Francisco.

I hope that Hanji can be loved as a beautiful cultural heritage that connects the hearts of more people beyond time and borders.

— Kim Hye-kyungExpressing her wish for the global recognition of Hanji.

Kim emphasized that culture serves as the warmest language, bridging individuals and their emotions. She conveyed her delight in discussing Korea's precious cultural heritage, Hanji, in San Francisco, a city known for innovation, creativity, and cultural diversity. She noted that a single sheet of Hanji embodies the breath of nature, the meticulous work of artisans, and the records of life.

Culture is the warmest language that connects people and their hearts.

— Kim Hye-kyungHighlighting the connective power of culture.

"Hanji, which has embraced our history for centuries, is expanding into new fields such as art, crafts, design, and fashion, demonstrating infinite possibilities connecting the past and the future," Kim stated. She expressed her strong desire for Hanji to be inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December, allowing it to shine further as a valuable asset for all humankind.

I am truly happy to be able to share stories about Hanji, Korea's precious cultural heritage, in San Francisco, a city of innovation and creativity where diverse cultures coexist.

— Kim Hye-kyungExpressing her pleasure at discussing Hanji in San Francisco.

During the event, Kim and other attendees playfully shouted 'Hanji!' instead of 'Kimchi!' for a commemorative photo, a lighthearted moment underscoring the cultural significance of the traditional paper. The event was attended by figures such as Anita E. Engels, director of the American Museum of Papermaking, and Donald Farnsworth, a handmade paper researcher.

A single sheet of Hanji contains the breath of nature, the long touch of the artisan, and the record of life.

— Kim Hye-kyungDescribing the inherent qualities and history within Hanji paper.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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